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U.S. House · California's 16th Congressional District

Santa Clara County, centered on San Jose.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

RESULT · UNOFFICIAL UNTIL CERTIFIED

Sam Liccardo, projected winner

CandidateVotesShare
Sam Liccardo161,50377.2%
Peter Soulé47,78222.8%

About 67% of the expected vote counted. As of November 9. Winners take office next year. Counts can change until states certify. NBC News ↗

Sources re-checked September 25, 2026 · How we research

  • This district's boundaries changed under California Proposition 50, the mid-decade congressional redistricting measure voters approved in November 2025. Incumbent Sam Liccardo and Republican Peter Soule advanced from the June 2, 2026 top-two primary, defeating Kevin Johnson and Jotham Stein.[1][2]

On the November 3 ballot · 2 candidates

Sam LiccardoDINCUMBENTPROJECTED WINNERU.S. Representative for California's 16th Congressional District (since 2025); previously Mayor of San Jose (2015-2023)Full profile →Peter SouleRFull profile →

Issue evidence — side by side

Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.

Protect legal access to abortion

  • Sam Liccardo
    Supports[6]

    In his Candidate Connection survey he says he will continue fighting to defend reproductive rights.

  • Peter Soule
    —

Stricter gun laws

  • Sam Liccardo
    Supports[11]

    Cosponsored H.R. 3115, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 (119th Congress), which would ban the sale and manufacture of many semiautomatic assault weapons.

  • Peter Soule
    Opposes[5]

    Says he will oppose local policies that limit Second Amendment rights.

Expand immigration enforcement and deportations

  • Sam Liccardo
    Recorded votes[15][16][17][18]

    Voted no on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations.

  • Peter Soule
    Supports[5]

    Says he will advocate for withholding federal dollars from cities that enforce sanctuary-city policies that prevent the deportation of people in the country illegally who commit crimes.

Loosen zoning rules to build more housing

  • Sam Liccardo
    Supports[4]

    Led or co-led four bills included in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which his office describes as the most significant federal housing reform package in more than 30 years, including the BUILD Housing Act and the Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act.

  • Peter Soule
    —

Raise taxes on high earners or corporations

  • Sam Liccardo
    Recorded votes[16][17][18]

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.

  • Peter Soule
    —

Expand public health coverage

  • Sam Liccardo
    Recorded votes[16][17][18][20]

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted yes on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08), which extended enhanced ACA premium subsidies.

  • Peter Soule
    —

Faster transition away from fossil fuels

  • Sam Liccardo
    Recorded votes[16][17][18]

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.

  • Peter Soule
    In their own words[5]
    “Make energy more affordable by removing restrictions on drilling for oil and building refineries in California.”

    On his campaign website's issues page

Public funding for school choice (vouchers / charters)

  • Sam Liccardo
    —
  • Peter Soule
    In their own words[5]
    “Enact Federal policies to protect parental rights and enable parents to send their children to their school of choice.”

    On his campaign website's issues page

Broad tariffs on imported goods

  • Sam Liccardo
    Recorded votes[23]

    Voted yes on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11), which disapproved the tariffs on Canadian imports.

  • Peter Soule
    —

Require documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote

  • Sam Liccardo
    Recorded votes[19]

    Voted no on SAVE Act (H.R. 22, 2025-04-10).

  • Peter Soule
    —

Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad

  • Sam Liccardo
    Recorded votes[21][22]

    Voted yes on War Powers Resolution on Venezuela (H. Con. Res. 64, 2025-12-17), which would have directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Venezuela absent congressional authorization. Voted yes on War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities (H. Con. Res. 86, 2026-06-03), which directed the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran absent congressional authorization.

  • Peter Soule
    —

Research notes & limits

Biography gaps: Peter Soule's birth year, birthplace and any prior elected office are not stated in his materials; Liccardo's mayoral end year is given as 2022 by Ballotpedia and 2023 by Wikipedia, so only 'two terms' is stated.

Sources · 27

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.United States House of Representatives elections in California, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.Sam Liccardo · Ballotpedia Reference
  3. 3.samliccardo.com · Sam Liccardo for Congress campaign website Candidate's own words
  4. 4.Lowering Costs · Office of Rep. Sam Liccardo Official record
  5. 5.Issues That Matter · Peter Soule for Congress campaign website Candidate's own words
  6. 6.Sam Liccardo — Candidate Connection survey responses · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026-01-01 Candidate's own words
  7. 7.About · Office of Rep. Sam Liccardo Official record
  8. 8.Sam Liccardo · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  9. 9.Sam Liccardo · Ballotpedia Reference
  10. 10.California 16th election results 2026 · NBC News News report
  11. 11.H.R. 3115, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 (Assault Weapons Ban of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  12. 12.H.Con.Res. 40 (Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  13. 13.H.Con.Res. 64 (To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  14. 14.H.Con.Res. 68 (To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
  15. 15.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  16. 16.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  17. 17.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  18. 18.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  19. 19.Roll call: SAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-04-10 Official record
  20. 20.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  21. 21.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-12-17 Official record
  22. 22.Roll call: War Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-06-03 Official record
  23. 23.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record
  24. 24.About · Peter Soule for Congress Candidate's own words
  25. 25.Issues That Matter · Peter Soule for Congress campaign website Candidate's own words
  26. 26.Peter Soule · Ballotpedia Reference
  27. 27.U.S. House · California's 16th Congressional District results 2026 · NBC News News report